J52 1247/68846

I do like this little engine, you can see a little bit of where it belongs in it's cheeky little smokbox face! Next question is the inevitable are we going to see it steam again soon? Any ideas as to what state its in? 69023 seems to do ok on a low loader and go up and down the country as does 4744. It's not just any 0-6-0 either, if a certain Capt Bill Smith RNR hadn't put his hand in his pocket would Mr Peglar...

 

It's worn out. We had it cosmetically sorted out and repainted into GNR livery around 2008, but it's an engine that is tired mechanically and boilerwise having come to the end of its ten year spell. It is currently displayed in the Station Hall at York and there are no plans to get it out soon. I always say "never say never", but "not now" is perhaps how I'd describe 1247. Besides, we need an 0-6-0 tank engine in the display.

 

I met (capt) Bill Smith several times in the mid 60s and asked him then why preserve a J52? His answer was that it was an Ivatt engine that he wanted and this was about all that he could afford at the time. I understand that Bill Smith bequeathed the loco to the NRM, therefore, as it is in their care they will ultimately decide whether it steams again and where. Of course, the NRM may enter into an agreement with an individual/organisation to take on the responsibility to restore 68846 as it has with other locos in the collection. Step up to the plate Matt and offer your services........

edit: Anthony dived in there a few minutes before me with a succinct summation of the
situation.

Cheers,

Alan

 

Didn't he donate her to the NRM in 1980/81 on the grounds that neither he nor his engine was getting any younger?

 

Yes, Mr Bramblewick, I do believe that was his quote at the time.

Cheers

Alan

 

Thanks Anthony, I do appreciate you get all sorts of requests for steaming x,y and z but it wasnt that long ago (or seems that way!) it was in traffic. Just wondered.

 

But you also need/want an 0-6-0 at Shildon for the shuttles, Anthony!!

 

Saw it on saturday- it's tucked away on the far side of the station Hall in a rather poorly lit area. It looked very smart from what I could tell.

Chris

 

That's the goods handling display section - dimly lit, as that's what it would have been like at Leeman Road goods depot. It's not tucked away, it is very much part of the exhibition

 

Wouldn't it be interesting to get her lined up with the surviving Ivatt Atlantics, no.1 and the N2 one day in matching liveries. Surprising to think they cover quite a long period of the GNR's existence between them.

 

2014 photo here of No 1247 in the Station Hall:

https://andrewstransport.smugmug.co...-2014/36720645_nrCK77#!i=3053038097&k=52FZcR9

Cheers

Andrew N